Keys Energy Services (KEYS) recently received the Tom Sawyer Five-Star Award from the Key West Chamber of Commerce in recognition of its educational outreach efforts over the past year.

The utility is one of only two chamber members to have received this award, and the only member to have received it every year since its inception. CEO Lynne Tejeda accepted the award.

Mariners Hospital honors clinical partner

Kathleen Cottrell has been named Mariners Hospital 2014 Clinical Partner of the Year. Cottrell has worked for the hospital for 18 months.

As a clinical partner, Cottrell helps patients with their needs and nurses with health care tasks such as taking vital signs and observing patients' general medical conditions.

She was nominated for the award by her co-workers, who praised her professionalism in carrying out her duties and keeping nurses informed of any changes in patients' conditions or vital signs.

Among Cottrell's attributes cited as the reason for nominating her as clinical partner of the year were her positive attitude and positive energy, which affect both patients and co-workers, as well as her compassion and willingness to go the extra mile to make sure patients and family members are satisfied.

New owners of Lower Keys Sea Tow

Sea Tow Services International announces that Capt. Mike and Kim Haas and Capt. Ernie and Anna Perroncello have assumed co-ownership of the Sea Tow Lower Keys location in the Florida Keys, serving the waters near Big Pine Key from Big Coppitt Key on the west side to the Seven Mile Bridge to the east.

The new owners of Sea Tow Lower Keys have considerable experience in providing expert professional assistance to boaters in the Florida Keys.

Haas, along with his wife, Kim, also own Sea Tow Key West (as well as Sea Tow Jacksonville in northeast Florida). Perroncello and his wife, Anna, are the owners of Sea Tow Islamorada/Marathon.

"We felt Sea Tow Lower Keys would be a good fit because it's right between the two of us," said Kim Haas, who along with her husband has owned the Key West franchise for two years and the Jacksonville franchise for 12 years.

Sea Tow Lower Keys operates a 22-foot center console Sea Tow vessel based at Little Torch Key with additional support as needed from the Sea Tow Key West and Sea Tow Islamorada fleets. More vessels are planned for the future.

"A small center console is the type of boat we run down here because it allows us the most flexibility," said Perroncello, who is in his 11th year as owner of Sea Tow Islamorada. "We often have to go into skinny water, so this boat is a natural choice. Additionally, we have the equipment to service members offshore as well."